MAGPIE'S MUMBLINGS

Friday, August 31, 2012

Before I start into my next big project I thought it would be wise to take a couple of days and finish a few projects I've had sitting around waiting for attention. First of all, I covered a blank hardback book....

Click on the picture to embiggen! Here's a mini tutorial for how I did it (be prepared to be impressed...not!!). Anyhoo....first I covered the book with some heavy brown paper (recycled from a grocery bag), glued down with a coat of Mod Podge I had lurking in my stash for what seems like forever. Big surprise was that it wasn't all dried up. I marked out the spine area and covered that with little torn strips of masking tape. The 'stamps' were cut from a vintage stamp collectors album (thanks Liz!!). Another slathering of Mod Podge and I collaged the stamps onto the rest of the cover (front & back of the book). After drying time on the balcony in the sun, I scrounged through my stash and came up with an eons-old bottle of water based walnut wood stain....slathered that on, and back into the sun to dry. A coat or two of waterbase varnish and voila.....a new everyday sketchbook for moi!!

AND...

Here's a little felted bag.

This afternoon I embroidered the musical

notes onto it and it's now DONE!!
Pattern is 'Two Measures of Joy"
by Elizabeth Mamo.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

I am very sad to say that the formal lessons have ended for the Embroiderer's Ledger online class. Will I miss it? No question! Would I strongly recommend taking this class? Oh yeah!! Do I have ideas to carry on? Definitely.

I have to say that my studio currently looks somewhat pristine (or the most pristine it has ever looked!), but at the detriment of my stitching! So. in lieu of stitching pictures by me....here's some news and beyond incredible eye candy that you might like to have a drool over...

1. The newest issue of Pat Winter's 'Crazy Quilt Gatherings' magazine is now available HERE. Needless to say I have ordered my copy already!

2. Remember me sending you over to see the installation that Susan Lenz did? Well there are more detailed pictures HERE in this post. Be sure to scroll down to see all the details! How I wish I could see this in person!!

3. Kathy Shaw is one of the generous souls on the internet and she has posted a free Silk Ribbon Embroidery Basics download. Kathy always has something interesting on her blog and also has published a book called 'Embellishing Crazy Quilts' and, of course, you know I have a copy! Anyway, go HERE for the SRE Basics information.

4. And....I'm sending you back to Kathy's blog again so you can see THIS. If you like white and embroidery, go drool!! Careful, don't drip on your keyboard!

5. Last, but not least, I know I've directed you before to have a look at Evy's blog. This time she not only has some beautiful pictures (very drool-worthy!) but she also has some beautiful free images for us at the bottom of THIS post. There's a 'translate' button her blog if you need it.

Monday, August 20, 2012

I'm sorry to say that once again there are no photos to share. Rest assured, I'm stitching merrily away and in the next day (or maybe two) I should have something to show for my efforts.

In the meantime, here's some eye candy and things of interest for you to explore...

- Susan Lenz does some pretty incredible art and her latest installation is absolutely eye popping! If you like textiles and recycling you have to see it HERE. Be sure to click on her pictures to enlarge them!

- Are you looking for a really innovative way to store your fabrics? Go HERE and check out what SewManyWays has to show us.

- The fibre art that appears on Mr. Finch's site is always interesting and his latest series of moths is pretty sweet. I wouldn't mind having one of these on my wall! Go HERE and be sure to scroll down to see his other creations.

- and finally, Adele Sciortino has announced a number of new on-line doll making classes HERE.

Today I've been hobbling about - muttering about how dumb I can be. This morning I managed to wrap my toe around a box full of books and .... guess what?.....boxes of books don't move, and toes? Well, mine is black and my whole foot is swollen.

Hmmm.....wonder how many times I'm going to whack it again before it heals?

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

I was happy to see the UPS man come today because he brought me this...

I haven't opened it yet because I'm saving it until I can sit down and have a delightful read. This book is by Sue Bleiweiss who I've followed online for some time. Along with her own blog HERE, she also runs the Sketchbook Challenge blog HERE. I have long been intimidated by sketchbooks because I didn't know quite what to do with one. Taking Karen's 'An Embroiderer's Ledger' online class has started me on what I hope will be a fruitful journey into sketchbook-ing.

This book has been talked about all over the 'net so I decided that I simply couldn't live without it any longer! Specs: 'The Sketchbook Challenge" (Techniques, Prompts, and Inspiration for Achieving Your Creative Goals) by Sue Bleiweiss. Published by Potter Craft, c 2012, ISBN 978-0-307-79655-4

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About birds? Well, I just stumbled across some of the cutest little embroidered ones that Catherine Frere-Smith has done. Go HERE (scroll down to see her delightful little creations!).

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Monday, August 06, 2012

Sorry folks, no stitching here today. BUT - for your viewing pleasure I have these....

1. What long weekend in the summer would be complete without having burgers on the barbie? Well, go HERE for a great low-calorie burger you are sure to love!

2. Trish Burr has done a most interesting interview with Di van Niekerk (silk ribbon embroiderer). There is some lovely silk ribbon eye candy HERE along with the interview. While you're there be sure to have a peek at Trish Burr's gallery too. Be prepared to be wowed with her needlework skill!

3. Connie often has some great links to organizational blogs and this time she has done something herself that I just love and would copy her idea in a heartbeat if I had the room for it. Go HERE !